Ex-Libertines frontman Pete Doherty has confessed he wrote his cover of the late Amy Winehouse's 'Tears Dry On Their Own' over two years before his close friend sadly passed.

The pair became friends as they supported one another through the battle of their respective drug addictions.

Doherty has said Winehouse's unexpected death on July 23, 2011 left him "bewildered" as he paid tribute to the star by performing a cover of her track 'Tears Dry On Their Own' during his headline gig at Leeds Festival last week.

Though many fans believed it was a spontaneous decision to pay his respects, Doherty later revealed it was actually a few years old.

He said, "A couple of years ago when she first released it, there was an idea kicked about that I was going to do an alternate version. I did actually write some alternate verses and record them but in the end no-one seemed to like it so it disappeared. But I've always loved that song, it's a f**king amazing tune and I've always wanted to do some tribute." 

Watch Pete Doherty cover 'Tears Dry On Their Own' live at the Leeds Festival here: